Big Hostel

Recent Reviews: 476

• User:Explorer20431598538

  Trip type: Friends getaway

  Slum of a hostel

  05 Oct 2025

  A colleague recommended this hostel for our trip to Sydney. I booked for three nights after viewing their webpage and the beautiful (deceiving) photos, however, upon arrival, and seeing the state of the kitchen and the room, as well as the awful smells walking up the several flights of steps due to the elevator being out of order, we wanted to leave immediately. Unfortunately, after phoning, all other hostels and hotels were fully booked due to the long weekend and we had no other choice but to stay here.The room : We booked a 4-bed ensuite room Negative: pube hairs on mattress covers (both top bunker beds) ; bunker bed made so much noise just turning around in bed that it woke others in the room ; linen and cushions had questionable stains on them; lockers are without locks - had to bring own pad lock (nowhere mentioned prior to arrival); shower and bathroom area has a significant amount of mould; elevator did not work the whole long weekend - had to climb so many steps up and down with baggage and the whole weekend. Positive: aircon works, good water pressure Kitchen area : Negative : though fully equipped, it is a very unhygienic area to do anything; spot clean takes place every morning, but I would throw away anything that touches a surface in this area. Positive : fully equipped and very hot water to use. Service : Helpful and rather accommodating receptionist; each guest got a key to the hostel. Location: GreatNoteworthy details:A place not for the "clean-of-hearts". The hostel needs a serious upgrade, a deep clean and perhaps new management who pride themselves in the appearance of their accommodation. The photos are deceiving and it was really disappointing. Big Hostel, at Big Backpackers Hostel, responded to this review Thank you for your feedback. We’re very sorry for your unpleasant experience and the inconvenience caused by the elevator being out of order. We understand how frustrating this must have been, especially during a busy weekend. Please know we’re actively working to improve these areas to ensure a better experience for our guests. We appreciate your patience and hope to welcome you back for a much improved stay.Best regards,Patrick ZinkenGeneral Manager

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• User:Lexie R

  Trip type: Solo travel

  Not very suitable for solo travellers

  22 Jul 2025

  I wouldn’t recommend this hostel for solo travellers, as more people are there to work and it isn’t very social. The rooms are relatively clean, however, as people practically live there, they had a lot of stuff everywhere and there was not much room for my own things. The showers were also a decent standard of cleanliness.It was in a decent location: very close to the Central Station and around a 30-40 minute walk to the Circular Quay and Opera House.

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• User:Maria P

  Trip type: Solo travel

  Amazing

  11 Oct 2024

  The pillows perfect service perfect clean linen nice rooms amazing staff amazing hostel mates quiet clean well managed kitchen toilets cleaned regularly no noise from events well behaved no breaches perfect location spacious comfy beds comfy couches hot showers

• User:Annie F

  Trip type: Solo travel

  Comfortable

  14 Sept 2023

  I actually stayed during March/April 2020 but I’m new to Trip Advisor - so I thought I’d share my experience. During my Australian trip the uncertainty of Covid made everything feel quite overwhelming, I stayed in hostels in Melbourne and other ones in Sydney, but felt safest and more at home at Big. The staff were always so welcoming, and the rooms were nicely sized and the rooms were delegated to a smaller amount of people which helped to keep me reassured whilst watching the ongoing Covid situation break out. There was a supply in the bathroom of hairdryers, so I actually managed to have dry hair! The beds were big and comfortable and the food/kitchen area was clean. If I do venture off downunder again, which is likely, and I need a hostel, I’ll be back at Big :)

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• User:Ronalie G

  Trip type: Solo travel

  Huge bloody rip off!

  29 Jan 2023

  I paid for a single room for SAUD174 for a Saturday night single room.en suite bathroom. What a rip off. No remote control for the TV a single chair I thought was going to break when I sat down. Toilet roll has to be held to or it will fall on the ground. No breakfast due to Pandemic. A fan that doesn't cool the room. Outside room.air conditioning was too noisy. I only slept because I am a heavy sleeper. The mattress was like a huge blob of jelly or water mattress. As a result I lost sleep and was irritable tired and stressed out. Lift is one of the slowest I have been in. There is no room in the fridges for stuff as the staff keep grog in the fridges for gatherings in the small kitchen. One guy was playing with a large pair of scissors ! Bench for preparing food wobbles. The worse insult of all for $19 more I could have stayed in a studio apartment in the Sydney CBD. Hostels are for party animals avoid at all costs.

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